Amusement target



Dec. 16, 1947. J. G. TINDALE 2,432,596

AMUSEMENT TARGET Filed April 17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR -J0h,nG.Tindale:

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Patented Dec. 16, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT TARGET JohnGoodill Tindale, Iola, Kans.

Application April 17, 1944, Serial No. 531,409

2 Claims. (Cl. 273-1021) My invention relates to amusement devices, andhas among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved comicfigure serving as a target for balls thrown thereat in the spirit of acompetitive game or for throwing practice.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a face View of the target;

Figure 2 is a side view;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary rear view of the head structure;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 ofFigure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a side View of a modified form of construction.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, I make use of a base Ill towhich is fixedly secured an upright post l2 braced by a diagonal memberI4. To the post [2 is fixedly connected a bracket 3 having a dependingand vertical end portion l8 secured to a target 20 in the nature of acomic figure. The end portion I8 is made secure by screws 22. The target24 is cut from a wooden board or plank of sufficient thickness towithstand the punishment inflicted by balls thrown thereagainst.

The head portion 24 of the target includes a relatively large mouthopening 26 normally closed by two doors 28 and 30. According to Figurel, the doors 28 and 36 have angular faces 32 fitting the correspondinglyshaped wall faces of the mouth opening 26, with the doors normallyclosing the mouth opening in the plane of the figure.

Metallic reinforcement 34 is attached to the figure 20 about the mouthopening.

Hinges 36 pivotally connect the door 28 with the head portion 24, whilehinges 38 also pivotally connect the door 30 with the head portion.Figure 1 illustrates the doors 28 and 30 as being provided with markingssimulating teeth 40.

To the rear face of the head portion 24 is fixedly secured a body 42which supports a bell 44 arranged to be struck by a hammer 46 attachedto the door 28. The door 28 swings upwardly when struck by a ball forbringing the hammer 46 into striking engagement with the bell. When aball strikes the door 34, this door pivots downwardly to the dotted lineposition of Figure 4 to rest on a horizontal bar 48 serving as a closurefor the door 30 through upward movement of the bar. This bar normallylies at rest on a support 52 attached to the figure 20. Two ropes 54 areattached to the bar 48 and extend loosely through openings 56 in thesup- 2 port 52. .Weights 58 are attached to the lower ends of the ropes54.

Two ropes 60 are attached to the bar 48 and pass through openings 62 inthe body 42. To the body 42 and the support 52 are fixedly connected twovertical guide rods 64 extending loosely through openings in the bar 48to guide the latter in its vertical movement. Both ropes 60 respectivelypass around grooved wheels 66 and are tied to a pull rope 68. Thus apull on the rope 68 elevates the bar 48 for pivoting the door 30 to aclosed position, the door 28 gravitating to its closed position. Theweights 58 return the bar 48 to its position at rest on the support 52when the rope 68 is released. The hinges 38 are so located that the door3!] will rest firmly against the tapered wall face of the mouth opening.

The ropes 6!] and the guide rods 64 are spaced sufiiciently far apart topermit the doors 28 and Bil to swing freely therebetween.

Figure 6 illustrates a modification in that the figure 1U includes amouth opening 12 devoid of doors. A bell I4 is attached to a rope 16depending from the bracket 18'. A plate is attached to the rope 16 inline with the mouth opening 12 and slightly rearwardly of the target.Thus a ball thrown through the mouth opening will strike the plate 80and cause the bell 14 to ring.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate myinvention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. A ball target comprising a figure having a mouth opening, a bell,upper and lower doors pivoted about horizontal axes on said figure andnormally closing said mouth opening, with the upper door gravitating toits normally closed position, said doors being marked to simulate teeth,a bell striker attached to one of said doors for engaging the bellthrough pivotal movement of that door when struck by a ball thrown insaid mouth opening, weighted means normally lying underneath the lowerdoor to support the latter when pivoted to an open position, and pullmeans connected with said weighted means for elevating the latter andclosing the lower door.

2. A ball target comprising a figure having a mouth opening, a bell,upper and lower doors pivoted about horizontal axes on said figure andnormally closing said mouth opening, with the upper door gravitating toits normally closed position, said doors being marked to simulate teeth,a bell striker attached to one of said doors for engaging the bellthrough pivotal move- REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in. the 15 file of this patent:

Number 4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Buckner Apr. 20, 1875 FalveyFeb. 19, 1907 Rigney Apr. 25, 1911 Lasares Aug. 27, 1912 Aley Nov. 1,1921 Shears May 30, 1922 Kn'oif Apr. 13, 1926 Roth Feb. 4, 1941

